What Movie Did You Just Watch? - Shh! It's Starting!

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - It was on Disney Channel today; it was the first time I've watched the Disney Channel in a really, really long time (as in a few years).

[IagoZazu]

I watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Mulan yesterday on the Disney Channel. They played four DACs in one day. It was unheard of. I'm surprised none of you brought this up.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs- It looked so wonderful and beautiful on my big plasma HD TV. The colors were rich and the movements smooth. As far as the movie itself, an entertaining classic as always.

Mulan- This one looked beautiful on my TV too. It's been a while since I've watched it, but I enjoyed it as much as I would watching it as a kid. The looks were awesome of course (Shan-Yu's army, The Imperial City) and it has good charm. The characters are strong and the story itself pretty powerful. You understand Mulan's struggles, and I was reminded how dark and brutal Shan-Yu was. It's a pity that Mulan doesn't get as much praise as some of the other 90's movies, but I think it's just as good as the rest.

[UmbrellaFish]

New Moon- These movies certainly aren't Oscar winning pictures, but there's something so darn addicting... I mean, now I have to see the other movies and finish the book series... Curse you, twilight saga!

[ajmrowland]

Naked States-a look at Spencer Tunick's work. Shooting artful pictures of nude people isn't really easy. It's very insightful, informative, and non-sexual. There is one point about two-thirds in when he tries to get a shot of people at a nudist beach and he comes off as a bit of a hypocrite, but it's only his experience. A worthwhile watch.

[carolinakid]

The Girl Of The Golden West (1938) Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy
For Pete's Sake (1974) Barbra Streisand & Michael Sarrazin

and bits and pieces of (I have the DVDs)
Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Aladdin (1992)
Mulan (1998)
Tarzan (1999)

[jpanimation]

When Harry Met Sally... (1989) 7/10 - pretty good but could've been better. I was really looking forward to this one, having really enjoyed Rob Reiner's two adaptions of Steven King novels (besides Frank Darabont's, quite possibly the best film adaptions of Steven King novels), and for some reason assumed the quality applied to all his earlier fims. I thought this film was fun, at times funny, and was a pretty clever scenario. The acting was alright (actually, I haven't seen Billy Crystal in any movie outside Analyze This, although I have heard his voice in a few animated movies, so I don't really have anything to go by for him; while I have seen Meg Ryan it a ton of movies). Supporting actors do a nice job and the story wraps up nicely (if predictable). While A Few Good Men was just alright and North was terrible, I enjoyed this one enough to give Reiner another chance with The Princess Bride, a movie I've heard some good things about.

The Princess Bride (1987) 6.5/10 - completely different then I expected. For some reason I thought it would be a modern princess movie, the kind you would find on Disney Channel, but instead it was a purebred fantasy. That said, it wasn’t very good. It came across as cheap and at times boring (much in the same vein as The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, or Willow, other 80’s fantasy films that felt like they were made-for-TV). Between the fake looking sets, laughable monsters, and TV show quality music, it just doesn’t hold up well. You could argue I’m viewing this at an older age but even as a kid I didn’t like those other films. That said, it was cool to see Fred Savage and Cary Elwes, both of whom were at their peak around this time. Billy Crystal is almost unrecognizable in his cameo, if not for his voice. This is just one of those movies that I don’t enjoy as much as others, and I’m sure nostalgia has a lot to do with that (this also applies to Goonies, a movie I believe you had to see as a kid to enjoy as an adult, and I'm sure I would've loved it as a kid). Well, I gave Reiner another chance and he disappoints once again. I guess he peaked with Stand by Me and Misery, that or he needs to work from established novels more often.

[BelleGirl]

Well, I did not 'just' watch a movie, but last week I saw Avatar. Truly eye candy and I liked it quite a bit.

[Goliath]

The candidate (1972)

Brilliant political satire about a young candidate for Senate (Robert Redford) who's sure he will lose and therefore dares to really speak his mind and stand on his principles. But then this catches on with the public, and the party takes over the campaign to make sure his growth will be sustained. This also means he has to accept to be fitted into a mold which makes his message as bland as that of all other politicians. While this clearly makes him feel uncomfortable, he goes along...

Besides being a great satire on the American political system, it also provides a look at a political time that since the 1989's and the rise of 24 hour cable 'news' tv has vanished forever. Even the premise of this film would not be possible anymore nowadays, while it would've been in the 1970's.

[PeterPanfan]

Le Papillon (The Butterfly) - We watched this in French today, and I really liked it. It was about a very young girl getting into an elderly man's car and going on a vacation with him. No, it was not criminal. The old man tried numerous times to bring her home, but she ended up being too much of a burden. The dialogue was beautiful and the actors were marvelous. Recommended.

[DaveWadding]

The Princess Bride (1987) 6.5/10 - [...] Well, I gave Reiner another chance and he disappoints once again. I guess he peaked with Stand by Me and Misery, that or he needs to work from established novels more often.

*facepalm*




Screenplay by: William Goldman

INCONCEIVABLE! I guess some people just don't get it.

[jpanimation]

What I meant to say was Steven King novels. Same goes for Darabont, who seems at his best when working with King's material.

[Goliath]

Broadcast News (1986)

Sold to me by my tv guide as "a brilliant satire on the way news is being made", so naturally, it immediately got my interest. Unfortunately, only the first half is a very mild parody on broadcast news in the US (in 1986; with the advent of cable it became much worse), but the second half was really a romantic comedy/drama which I didn't care for much.

[tikky1234]

Green Zone - Absolutely horrible. It was marketed as another Bourne movie, which is totally was not, yet it still sucked. Not recommended.

Agreed. Green Zone was quite boring. It might have worked much better as a thriller instead of a wanna-be action movie. The handheld camera made me sick, too.

I did enjoy 2012 because i find it entertaining. Sure, it is not factual and sure it is superficial. But, compare it with most of the movies the last year or so and it is actually quite good (just my opinion). I do like Carol Burnett dvd show though it is old then it still has a good quality over it.

[Goliath]

Enchanted (2007)

Yeah, I finally caved and watched it. But just because it was on tv anyway. And I must say, contrary to my expectations, I *really* liked this movie. Naturally I object to the part where 'shopping' is presented as the ultimate way for mother and daughter to bond (ugh!), which I hated, but other than that... Oh yeah, and I hated the squirrel. But I loved Amy Adams! <3

[ajmrowland]

it was a chipmunk.

[Goliath]

it was a chipmunk.

You know, that's what I wrote at first and then deleted it and wrote "squirrel".

I don't know why that's even remotely interesting either.

[jpanimation]

it was a chipmunk.

It was and is my avatar

Ponyo (2008) 8/10 - great movie with a weak ending. This is a kids movie, Miyazaki states it was made for 5 year olds, and yet he layers all kinds of deeper meaning that adults will enjoy. It shows true innocence of children and is jam packed with heart. My little brother was just as hyper as Ponyo and I have to say, Miyazaki nailed the characterization. From speaking her mind (children don't have the filter that adults develop) to just repeating everything she hears, pitch perfect representation of my brother. It was great. I knew I was watching a kids movie, from a kids perspective (even the art direction is for kids), but the whole thing is just told so well that adults can enjoy it. On the other had, I just don't like the ending at all. The movie was great and then Miyazaki throws us a curveball that says two children loving each other will save the world. What? I just don't understand it. Miyazaki leads us to believe that the potion/magic well that was mixed with the ocean is what was causing the imbalance in the world and then suddenly, towards the end of the movie, it will all be corrected if two children make a decision to love each other forever (something they couldn't possible comprehend or even fathom what future repercussions could develop as result of this commitment). Well, Miyazaki admits he didn't know how to end the movie and it shows. Forcing kids who haven't hit puberty yet or even understand what love is to make such a big commitment was asinine and then to say this decision will determine the fate of the world, ugh. With that said, it still should've been nominated for Best Animated Feature (over, say, Fantastic Mr. Fox or even The Secret of Kells).

On a side note, the Blu-ray extras are horrible. I'm so glad I didn't buy this as I plowed through them all in less then an hour. Its a shame that Japan gets a 9-disc set with over 16 hours of material, including an extensive making-of documentary, and we can't even get a 2-disc Blu-ray. They all seemed to rush through whatever they were talking about, barley scratching the surface and didn't show a single animator or artist outside Miyazaki and the producer. The conversation with Miyazaki and Lasseter was two questions long. Really, that is your idea of a conversation? I'm not sure why they half ass our sets from Ghibli as some of us are actually interested in how they make their movies. Heck, the Ghibli World feature is nothing more then a marketing tool to promote the other Ghibli movies they are selling at the time, not to actually give you something informative. I just don't feel it would be that hard to port the Japanese extras (for a Collector's Edition or something) and put a narration or english subtitles over them, done.

[SmartAleck25]

Toy Story (1995)- 1,000,000/10
What can I say? This film is so perfect on every level, I can't help myself. The characterization, the pacing, the incredible animation, story, voice acting, need I go on? The reviewers of this amazing film on UD (to my knowledge, Luke and Kelvin) know exactly what they're talking about. There is such great power and meaning to it, I can't even begin to describe. I watched it tonight to prepare for tomorrow night when I watch my new Blu-ray of TS2. Boy, are my expectations raised (that doesn't mean I haven't watched TS2 ). I wonder: does Woody's hole in his forehead remain in the sequel (I can't remember )? I'm assuming Geri (a.k.a. the cleaner) cleaned it up?

[Scarred4life]

I just watched The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, for about the 8th time this week. But what can I say? This movie is just so powerful, I can not get enough of it. 11/10

[ajmrowland]

it was a chipmunk.

It was and is my avatar

Ponyo (2008) 8/10 - great movie with a weak ending. This is a kids movie, Miyazaki states it was made for 5 year olds, and yet he layers all kinds of deeper meaning that adults will enjoy. It shows true innocence of children and is jam packed with heart. My little brother was just as hyper as Ponyo and I have to say, Miyazaki nailed the characterization. From speaking her mind (children don't have the filter that adults develop) to just repeating everything she hears, pitch perfect representation of my brother. It was great. I knew I was watching a kids movie, from a kids perspective (even the art direction is for kids), but the whole thing is just told so well that adults can enjoy it. On the other had, I just don't like the ending at all. The movie was great and then Miyazaki throws us a curveball that says two children loving each other will save the world. What? I just don't understand it. Miyazaki leads us to believe that the potion/magic well that was mixed with the ocean is what was causing the imbalance in the world and then suddenly, towards the end of the movie, it will all be corrected if two children make a decision to love each other forever (something they couldn't possible comprehend or even fathom what future repercussions could develop as result of this commitment). Well, Miyazaki admits he didn't know how to end the movie and it shows. Forcing kids who haven't hit puberty yet or even understand what love is to make such a big commitment was asinine and then to say this decision will determine the fate of the world, ugh. With that said, it still should've been nominated for Best Animated Feature (over, say, Fantastic Mr. Fox or even The Secret of Kells).

On a side note, the Blu-ray extras are horrible. I'm so glad I didn't buy this as I plowed through them all in less then an hour. Its a shame that Japan gets a 9-disc set with over 16 hours of material, including an extensive making-of documentary, and we can't even get a 2-disc Blu-ray. They all seemed to rush through whatever they were talking about, barley scratching the surface and didn't show a single animator or artist outside Miyazaki and the producer. The conversation with Miyazaki and Lasseter was two questions long. Really, that is your idea of a conversation? I'm not sure why they half ass our sets from Ghibli as some of us are actually interested in how they make their movies. Heck, the Ghibli World feature is nothing more then a marketing tool to promote the other Ghibli movies they are selling at the time, not to actually give you something informative. I just don't feel it would be that hard to port the Japanese extras (for a Collector's Edition or something) and put a narration or english subtitles over them, done.

Any chance of being able to import the 9-disc set?

And, while on this subject, what makes people so seemingly divided over this movie? I suppose we should save that for another thread, but It's been killing me this past week.